Media response - cars on beaches

Published on 21 June 2024

Response to the Fleurieu Sun.

• Are there any comments from council on the decision not to further review vehicles on the foreshore, following last September's petition

Comments attributed to Renee Mitchell, Director Planning

We receive semi-regular requests to restrict vehicle access on Onkaparinga’s beaches for the reasons outlined by the petitioners – environmental protection and community safety.

We’ve regulated vehicle access on these beaches since 1975, including through speed limits on entrance ramps and the foreshore, vehicle-free areas, bollards, signage, community safety officer patrols, and education campaigns.

We regularly evaluate our approach to vehicles on beaches, including through a 2019–20 review of management of vehicle compliance on protected foreshore areas, which included community engagement.

We’ve also remade foreshore by-laws when necessary to enhance our approach, most recently in 2022–23, introducing Hooded Plover protection zones through new dog and vehicle-prohibited areas.

Our current arrangements and controls for vehicles on the foreshore strike a careful balance between beach access – particularly for those with disabilities and to address limited on-street car parking – and the risk of harm to the environment and beachgoers’ safety.

For this reason, Council resolved not to undertake a further review of vehicles on the foreshore at this time.

ENDS